Long time since I posted something here.
Simply because there isn't too much new eye catching or mind boggling stuff.
Having left my Weber carbs behind, as I swapped them against TWMIDUCTION
http://www.twminduction.com/v8_kits/v8_kits-FR.html and Megasquirt ECU
http://www.msextra.com, I deeply dove into the magics of Fuel injection and ignition programming and AFR control...which is a bit boring on one hand (no milling, drilling, welding - smelling...)
On the other hand it is amazing what you can do just with a few mouseclicks. Everything from flodding the engine completely, to a decent tunig, all without changing any Jets. Believe me the flodding was easy...amazing what a high performance fuel pump and injectors can feed in a few seconds if mouseclicks were wrong.
OK, I keep my Webers on the shelf as I don't know how long the electronics stuff will work
So after having my headers done
http://forum.grumpysperformance.com/viewtopic.php?f=56&t=2537&start=30
I fired up the engine, whith a basic mapping, based on guesswork and "some experience".
What a feeling having the baby up and running after 11 months. Idling well, but so rich that eyes were burning of fuel.
Long story (not) short,
Meanwhile I am @ my 35th fuel mapping table, constantly improving, still w/o any dyno, just on normal roads. OK on the Autobahn as well :mrgreen:
The tuning software is amazing (as long as you know what you are doing). Procedure is simple -define the target settings for Fuel and AFR, go out and drive whilst data logging on. Get back home, or into a parking lot, feed log files into the software, let it optimize the setting against the AFR table, flash it into the ECU and move on to the next drive. A 5 minute job. Of course you need a good (or at least conservative) AFR and Ignition table as a start.
I guess I am still a bit away of the top tune, but simply had no time to do dyno runs at the shop 150 miles away...
However, idling and cruising is very nice already and hp seems to be sufficient for the most folks around already. :lol:
Fuel consumption went down from 7mpg 14.5mpg and still running too rich.
I just got my upgraded ECU back, had it changed from 12x12 maps to 16x16 maps and faster CPU (around 300$) so I can spread the maps across many more fields, allowing very smooth tunes. Also now I can incorporate EGT, G-sensors, GPS speed, barometric altitude correction and many more into my logs, helping to tune.
Especially EGT will help tuning the igniton further.
Also I'll hook up knock detection and control to protect the engine. I know this is very hard to tune, and final adjustments will be done on the dyno very very carefully.
So...no real old school tuning here, it is more kind of "experimental car" now, but in parallel I am working at my new baby...a little 4cyl GM built '66 (67cui / 55hp). Very very down to earth.
Still as it was 45years ago, no mods, even though I have seen a similar one with a hot 350SBC recently....not visible from outside
Let us see what winter time will bring.
C.